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esolution of the system and the number of colors and
shades that can be created Is related to the memory
dedicated to refreshing the image and thus to the cost.
To date, three low-cost, low-resolution color CRT
systems are known to the author, but other systems may
and probably do exist. The Cromemco Dazzler is a
microprocessor that displays a 64 by 64 pixel array in
15 colors on a TV set. The 8 basic colors are shown in
either low-intensity and high-intensity: black, white,
red, blue, green, magenta, cyan, and yellow. The low
and high intensity blacks are the same, thus the 15
colors. The Apple II is advertised as a personal
computer and is marketed primarily to those who want to
use it as a stand alone microprocessor system. This
system can generate a 40 by 48 pixel array in the same
colors on a TV set. It can also be used at a higher
resolution to generate a 280 by 192 pixel array in 4
colors. The third unit is called the Compucolor when
packaged as the personal computer and is known as an
Intecolor when configured as a business/scientific
package. These units can display the basic 8 colors at
one intensity in a 25 by 80 or a 48 by 80 array and can
be operated at a higher resolution in 8 colors in a 100
by 160 array or a 192 by 160 array.
Perhaps the newest development is the announcement by
Texas Instruments of a color video graphics chip to
plug into a microprocessor to generate a 15-color
display at 256 by 192 levels of resolution. The chip
will sell for under $50 in batches of 100 units. (1)
ABW Corporation has come out with a chip to let the
Apple II emulate a Tektronix terminal, but at a much
lower level of resolution. Announcements of this type
will probably become more common in the next couple of
years. What is really missing at this time is
software--programs to do something useful with the
color systems. However, software will be forthcoming
and we will soon see organizations devoted to the
sharing of programs of all types. Certainly, some of
these programs will be cartographically oriented.
What can these low-cost, low-resolution systems do for
cartography? The low resolution of these systems
makes them quite limited for line-drawing. Their
strength lies in the ability to produce a variety of
tones, or colors, which can be quite dramatic. For the
most part, these systems are comparable to the image
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